Kaspersky found a rise in interest in artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots among children. More than 7.5% of all search queries were about AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.AI, representing a nearly twofold increase from last year's 3.19%.
Online activities
The most common online activity among kids was searching on Google for streaming platforms (18%).
YouTube remains the top Android app in Singapore, with users spending 22.19% of their time on the platform. WhatsApp rose to second place with 21.35%, overtaking TikTok (13.14%), while Facebook continued to decline.
Video content and games also remained popular topics in children's search behaviour. Platforms like Netflix, Twitch, and Disney+ are still at the top of kids' favourite lists.
In the gaming world, kids continued to favour Roblox, Minecraft and, increasingly, the browser-based portal Poki.
Online Safety
However, Kaspersky warns that not all chatbot interactions are risk-free. Some bots may expose children to emotionally intense content, misinformation, or age-inappropriate themes. These risks are often present due to the reliance on user-generated content and the lack of strict moderation.
For added safety, Kaspersky recommends maintaining open communication with children about potential online risks. Establishing clear guidelines to ensure their safety is also crucial. Kaspersky also suggests installing a trusted security solution to prevent malicious file downloads.
"When parents take time to understand what their children are watching, playing or searching for, it opens the door to meaningful conversations — and helps build safer, more trusting digital habits. Apps for digital parenting can be a helpful tool in this journey — not only to protect but to stay involved," said Anna Larkina, privacy expert at Kaspersky.
